A twofold post today-
Savoring simple daily pleasures
Firstly, a long awaited seasonal switch in my wardrobe:
As we great up for a seasonal change- in our case here in the southern hemisphere- much awaited Spring, we start to become enthusiastic and very ready for a change in the clothes which have been keeping us warm and protecting us from the elements these past wintry months.
Today, it is so warm I have been sat in the glorious sun with my book for a mid afternoon respite- a very rare thing indeed- and in our little sheltered spot those suns rays felt far more intense that early spring I can tell you!
So it was with delight and much anticipation I finally felt I had the time and was recovered sufficiently from my horrid flu, to invest a few solid hours and bring out the forgotten summer favorites, carefully pack away my winter woolens, and edit a fair amount along the way to donate.
I had such a streamline clear vision in my head of what I didn't need, what I was looking forward to wearing again, items that didn't serve me this past season or didn't fit well, or some which had just been worn and worn so had passed their prime. The reality is though, when you take down those storage boxes- or whatever system you use to store your off season garments, its actually quite a challenge to be ruthless and cull items you still actually like but that fit into the afore mentioned categories.
I particularly struggle with:
*Items from brands no long in business, therefore irreplaceable as such
*Items I purchased majorly discounted, or pre loved even, that would normally be beyond my budget
*Items of high quality that no longer fit me
*Items I like and appreciate but are not my true style
*Items I love but have worn so much they no longer look their best- like my wool/cashmere sweater dress with hefty pilling.
*Items I was gifted which aren't quite right but I have attached an emotion or sense of guilt to them
*Items that hold fond memories
These areas can be quite challenging to be ruthless in!
However, each time I go through this process- Bi-annually for the major changeovers and regularly between those time to sort, remove items, or repair any that can be fixed- I hone in on my true personal style just a little bit more, each time getting closer and closer to the aha moment.
In reality, its unlikely I will ever reach that sweet spot entirely as we evolve and change, lifestyles adapt and alter, employment, children, weight fluctuations, climate changes, our ideal wardrobe shift and morphs with us. But we can certainly be truer to our personal style, learn what suits us and what's is comfortable and what we can look our personal best in.
So, I haven't paired it back as much as I'd dreamed up- I do have 4 full boxes and 2 bags for donations though- but I am happy with the 'cuts' and choices I've made. I have no regrets (thus far) about the items no longer in my wardrobe; its looking more streamline and I have a clear idea of my inventory. I hang almost all my garments, so I tend to group similar items together and hang them in a color graduated spectrum- so Lights to darks, tee shirts, then button up shirts, then light sweaters etc, all my dresses in one area, light to dark, blazers and jackets in another.
I feel there is still plenty of room for improvement, but I have plenty- more than enough, and for a no buy year its really quite eye opening that there have been very few genuine gaps and true needs. Many, many wants and desires but that's a different thing entirely.
12 weeks left to go...... But honestly- I could have been far more vigilant, (I admit to a few slip ups and indiscretions along the way...) there is nothing I am desperately hanging out to purchase or any great obvious gaps in my closet. I am truly grateful for the plentiful clothes I do have- for every season- options, variety, styles - and I love everything I have wholeheartedly. Lucky me!
The biggest lesson I think I have taken this time around, from this wardrobe curating session, is that simple if often best, less is almost always more, and simple tones and hues within your unique and ideal color palette can be brought together with beautiful quality well-made pieces, paired with much more affordable and less well constructed items. Its about how you pull them together- a high-end cashmere sweater over a well-constructed pleated skirt, but the belt that pulls the outfit together was a $1 find from a secondhand store- or an inexpensive dupe from a dollar store or online.
Quiet luxury is just that. Quite, subtle and understated.
For the second part of this post, and on another topic almost entirely - although we can pull from the sentiment for our wardrobe cultivation: I would like to talk about our own personal life paths.
How we create these pathways and build our own reality really does start within our own minds. In a private space, our thoughts eventually create neurological pathways over time, creating our beliefs, and if we keep strengthening those beliefs, they can, and most often do, become our reality.
When thinking about the chain reaction in such a basic way, if you will, all of a sudden a new focus seems to take shape, a sense of control and ownership of our direction.
Now, these paths are wont to wind and fork and forge new tracks we didn't know or even didn't want to know were there. This analogy came to me on a recent walk after heavy rains- I had been moaning to a friend about not feeling up to tackling my to do list with the vigor I am accustomed to having been under the weather, and she gave me some sound advice indeed which brought a new perspective. In essence, what she said was, do what bring you joy, don't feel obliged to tick off the list of chores that will largely go unnoticed by your family: in 5 years time, will I be happy I poured my energies into my writing and other passions, time for myself, walks and enjoyable tasks, or that I dusted my skirting boards?
Needless to say, I am not going to turn into a slovenly house keeper- nor may I add is she with a spotless beautiful home- but it doesn't do well to get hung up on a list, to be so inflexible you forget to enjoy what makes you happy too- sometimes its more healthy to let things go a little from such a tight rein, only see to your obligations of the upmost importance that day, take the sense of duty away and allow things to unfold a little more organically. We cant live our everydays in this floaty way, but its rather lovely to allow it to happen every so often when there are no dire consequences, and we can be spontaneous, allow ourselves to be gently led by our inner voice and the universe whispering to us.
As I walked along pondering this concept, with my half accomplished to do list lying on the kitchen bench at home, I observed the rivulets the rains had made, carving into the mud and though the banks, and verges, re distributing the fallen leaves, and most notably, finding a new channel, completely bypassing the huge and vastly expensive storm water drains that were installed a few years ago at great inconvenience and disruption to the local residents! It found its own path, despite the groundwork, expense and planning- nature, and time, changed the course of the water.
We can choose to change the course of our thoughts, and thus form new neural pathways, fortify our new beliefs until we create our new reality.
It just takes a little commitment to uncommit. To make the space to stand back and allow things to unfold a little, giving us the opportunity to spark new thoughts and ideas without stifling them.
See if you can let a new channel of thought or inspiration find its own pathway, follow it, and see where it might lead you. Be brave.
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